Socket base assembly

ABSTRACT

A socket base assembly is provided which includes an apertured insulating panel fixedly mounted on a support piece. The insulating panel is provided with a non-circular aperture which is aligned with a current-carrying means positioned therebehind. Removably mounted within the panel aperture is a conductive jaw means which is connected to the current-carrying means. The jaw means is provided with a base portion having a central segment disposed within the panel aperture and conforming substantially to the shape thereof and peripheral segments angularly disposed relative to the central segment and being impassable relative to the panel aperture. A pair of jaw-like protuberances project outwardly from and are integral with the base portion. Fastening means cooperate with the center segment of the base portion to removably secure the jaw means to the current-carrying means.

United States Patent [1 1 Reed et al.

1 SOCKET BASE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Ronald H. Reed, Versailles;Joseph C. Drilling; Lary D. Jones, both of Lexington, all of Ky.

[73] Assignee: Square D Company, Park Ridge. 111. [22] Filed: Apr. 25,1974 [21] Appl. No.: 464,286

[52] US. Cl. 339/219 R; 317/107; 339/259 F [51] Int. Cl HOlr 13/16; HOlr13/40 [58] Field of Search 339/252, 253, 256, 258,

339/259, 262,219, 198 M, 31 B; 317/104, 105,l06,107,108, 109,110,111

9/1964 Waldrop .L 317/107 [451 Apr. 29, 1975 Primary E.tunzl'nerlosephH. McGlynn Alrurney, Agent, or FirmHarold .l. Rathbun; Ernest S.Kettelson [57] ABSTRACT A socket base assembly is provided whichincludes an apertured insulating panel fixedly mounted on a supportpiece. The insulating panel is provided with a non-circular aperturewhich is aligned with a currentcarrying means positioned therebehind.Removably mounted within the panel aperture is a conductive jaw meanswhich is connected to the current-carrying means. The jaw means isprovided with a base portion having a central segment disposed withinthe panel aperture and conforming substantially to the shape thereof andperipheral segments angularly disposed relative to the central segmentand being impassable relative to the panel aperture. A pair ofjaw-likeprotuberances project outwardly from and are integral with the baseportion. Fastening means cooperate with the center segment of the baseportion to removably secure the jaw means to the current-carrying means.

7 Claims. 5 Drawing Figures SOCKET BASE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION When installing socket bases for electrical fixtures. it isdesirable that their installation be simple, yet permanent, and onceinstalled require a minimal amount of maintenance. Formerly, the jawmeans and terminals comprising prior socket base assemblies werenormally mounted on large panels of insulating material. In suchconstructions the jaw means were clamped directly onto the panel;however, frequently the compressive forces produced by the jaw meanscaused shrinkage of the insulating material resulting in breakage of thepanel and a poor electrical connection. The jaw means in such assembliesgenerally consisted of several discrete components which resulted ininstallation, inventory, handling, and maintenance problems.l-Ieretofore, in servicing prior socket assemblies it was necessary toremove the socket cover and insulating plate, thereby making suchservicing an awkward time-consuming operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly. an object of this invention is toprovide a socket base assembly which is not beset with theaforementioned shortcomings, yet is capable of readily accommodating avariety of electrical devices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a socket baseassembly wherein the jaw means thereof, when in place, are not incompressive relation with the insulating panel of the assembly.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a unitized jawmeans which may be mounted on or removed from the current-earring meansby a simple manual manipulation without removing other components of thesocket assembly.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a unitized jawmeans that is self-aligning within the panel aperture and is adapted tobe interchangeable with other jaw means where a plurality of jaw meansare embodied in the socket base assembly.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a socket baseassembly which utilizes unitized jaw means connectible to acurrent-carrying means by a single fastener accessible from the front ofthe assembly.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention is a socket baseassembly having an apertured panel of insulating material fixedlymounted on a support piece. The aperture formed in the panel is alignedwith a current-carrying means positioned behind the panel. Disposedwithin the panel aperture and extending outwardly therefrom is a jawmeans. The jaw means includes a base portion having a central segmentextending into the aperture and conforming substantially to the shapethereof. The base portion also includes peripheral segments offset fromthe central segment and being impassable relative to the panel aperture.Projecting outwardly from one of the peripheral segments is a pair ofcomplemental elongated jaw-like protuberances which are biased towardsone another for clamping engagement with an electrical device to beattached to the assembly. An exposed fastening means engages the centralsegment of the base portion and removably connects same in conductiverelation to th. current carrying means disposed behind the panelaperture. The fastening means, when interconnecting the central segmentof the jaw means to the current-carrying means, is not causing theinsulating panel to be subjected to undesirable compressive forces.

For a more complete understanding of the invention one should makereference to the drawing herein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of the socket baseassembly shown positioned within a housing.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the jaw means which is acomponent of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right-side view of the jaw means of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the jaw means of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the jaw means of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one form of an improved socket base assembly 10is shown mounted within a conventional housing 11. The housing 11includes a front panel 12 which is provided with one or more openings12a to accommodate various electrical devices such as meters or thelike, not shown, but well known in the art. Disposed within the housing11 and behind the assembly 10 are current-carrying means such as busbars 13.

The socket base assembly 10, as seen in FIG. 1, includes a panel 14formed of suitable insulating material which is sized in the illustratedembodiment so as to pass through opening 12a and yet provides asubstantial shield from the bus bars 13. The panel 14 is provided withapertures 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14:! which are of noncircularconfiguration. The number, shape and relative location of the panelapertures may vary from that shown and will depend upon the type ofcurrentcarrying means disposed within the housing and the type ofelectrical device to be accommodated within the housing opening 12a. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the apertures -41 are substantially symmetrically arranged about a central aperture which is pro vided to receive asuitable fastener 15 for fixedly mounting the insulating panel 14 to astationary support 16 within the housing. The support 16 may be a rod ofinsulating material which functions as a spacer between adjacent bus barsections 13a and 13b.

Accommodated within each panel aperture l4ad is a jaw means 17. All ofthe jaw means are of like construction and thus are interchangeable. Apreferred jaw means 17 is shown in FIGS. 2-4 and comprises first andsecond jaw sections 18 and 20, respectively, and a biasing spring 21.Each jaw section is formed of a conductive metallic material. First jawsection 18 includes a base portion having a central segment 18a and apair of oppositely disposed peripheral segments 18b and offset from thecentral segment. The central segment 18a is adapted to extend through apanel aperture and conforms to the shape of the aperture. The centralsegment is provided with an opening A through which the shank 22a ofafastener 22 extends when the jaw means is mounted in place on the panel14. The fastener 22 and its function will be described more fullyhereinafter. The base portion peripheral segments 18b and 18c extendfirst outwardly from opposite sides of the central segment and thenlaterally in opposite directions so as to prevent the remainder of thejaw means passing through the aperture.

Peripheral segment 18b comprises a pair of spaced tabs 18d of likeconfiguration, see F165. 1 and 4. The distal end 18 of each tab isadapted to overlie an exposed first portion of the panel circumjacentthe aperture. Peripheral segment 18c comprises a single tongue-likeportion 18f which overlies an exposed second portion of the panel. Theouter edge of portion 18f is integral with an elongated jaw 18g, whichprojects resiliently outwardly from the panel 14 towards the housingopening 12a.

The second jaw second 20, as seen in FIG. 4, interfits with section 18..law section includes a base portion 200 which overlies the centralsegment 18a of jaw section 18. An opening B is formed in the baseportion 20a and is disposed in coincident relation with the opening A injaw section 18. The periphery of base portion 20a is provided with apair of corner notches 20b through which extend the tabs 18b ofjawsection 18. Thus, the tabs 18d maintain jaw sections 18 and 20 in properrelative position.

Extending outwardly and laterally from the opposite side of base portion200 is a tongue-like protuberance 20c. The protuberance terminates atand is integral with an elongated jaw 20d which projects resilientlyoutwardly from the panel 14 towards the housing opening 12:]. Jaws 18gand 20d are complementary to one another and provide a socket S toreceive a part of an electrical device mounted within the housingopening 12a. To facilitate entry into the socket, the ends of the jaware flared outwardly, see FIGS. 2 and 4.

To assure positive resilient engagement between the jaws and the part ofthe electrical device disposed therebetween, the spring 21 is provided.The spring is formed of relatively stiff wire-like material which hasbeen bent to form a resilient clip. The clip includes a pair of C-shapedlegs 21a and b which are adapted to overlie the outer surface of jaws18g and 20d, respectively. The lower portions of the legs areinterconnected by an integral bail segment 21c. The bail segment 21c isadapted to fit within a pocket P formed by the offset lower portions ofthe jaws 18g and 20d To prevent accidental disengagement of the clipfrom the jaws, one ofthe jaws (jaw 20d in the illustrated embodiment) isprovided with a struck-out or lug 20e which engages a loop L formed inthe C-shaped leg 21]) of the clip.

As aforenoted, each panel aperture l4a-d has a noncircularconfiguration; thus, once the central segment 18a and the base portion20a of the jaw sections 18 and 20, respectively, are disposed within apanel aperture, the jaw means will not twist or rotate relative to thepanel. Furthermore, it will be noted from the drawings, particularlyFIG. 1, that the jaws 18g and 20d of a jaw means 17 are laterally offsetrelative to the openings A and B through which a portion 22a of thefastener 22 extends when the jaw means is secured in place. In theillustrated embodiment, fastener portion 22a comprises a threaded studbolt which is carried by the bus bar 13a or 13b. The threaded end of thebolt projects outwardly beyond the base portion 20a of jaw section 21and engaged by a suitable nut 22b. The nut may be readily screwed ontoor from the protruding end of the stud bolt by a conventional socketwrench or the like without requiring removal of the housing front panelor any other component of the assembly. Other types of fasteners may beutilized, if desired, to secure the jaw means in place. Only therequired number ofjaw means need be installed to accommodate theelectrical device mounted within the housing panel opening. it isimportant to note that when the nut is drawn up tight onto the stud boltonly the base portion of the jaw means is under compression between thenut and bus bar section and not the adjacent portions of the insulatingpanel. Thus, fracturing or shrinkage of a portion of the panel isavoided.

Each jaw means is preassembled at the time it is manufactured therebygreatly simplifying installation or servicing of the assembly. Becausethe jaw means are all of like configuration and interchangeable, theinstaller is required to carry to the job site only one type of jawmeans for a given type of assembly.

We claim:

1. A socket base assembly for an electrical device comprising anapertured panel of insulating material fixedly mounted on a support,said panel having an aperture adapted to be aligned with acurrent-carrying means positioned therebehind; jaw means having a baseportion with peripheral segments thereof impassable relative to saidaperture and a central segment accommodated within said aperture, theconfiguration of said central segment corresponding substantially to theaperture configuration, a pair of complemental elongated jaws intergralwith said base portion and offset relative to said central segment andprojecting angularly outwardly from said base portion, said jaws beingbiased toward one another for clamping engagement with a portion of theelectrical device; and exposed fastening means engaging said centralsegment for securing in electrically conductive relation said jaw meansto the current-carrying means.

2. The socket base assembly of claim 1 wherein the central segment ofsaid jaw means is provided with an opening, and said fastening means isprovided with an elongated portion extending through said opening.

3. The socket base assembly of claim 1 wherein said panel is providedwith a plurality of spaced apertures, and a corresponding number ofjawmeans is provided, each jaw means being of substantially likeconstruction.

4. The socket base assembly of claim 1 wherein the jaws are biasedtowards one another by an encompassing spring.

5. The socket base assembly of claim 1 wherein the aperture of saidpanel has a noncircular perimetric configuration and the central segmentof said jaw means has a corresponding peripheral configuration wherebysaid jaw means remains in a predetermined position with respect to saidpanel when the central segment of said jaw means is accommodated withsaid aperture.

6. The socket base assembly of claim 5 wherein the central segment ofsaid jaw means base portion is in self-aligned relation with respect tothe panel aperture when accommodated therein.

7. The socket base assembly of claim 5 wherein the peripheral segmentsof the base portion of said jaw means are disposed in non-compressiverelation with the portion of said panel defining said aperture, whensaid jaw means is fixedly accommodated within said ap-

1. A socket base assembly for an electrical device comprising anapertured panel of insulating material fixedly mounted on a support,said panel having an aperture adapted to be aligned with acurrent-carrying means positioned therebehind; jaw means having a baseportion with peripheral segments thereof impassable relative to saidaperture and a central segment accommodated within said aperture, theconfiguration of said central segment corresponding substantially to theaperture configuration, a pair of complemental elongated jaws intergralwith said base portion and offset relative to said central segment andprojecting angularly outwardly from said base portion, said jaws beingbiased toward one another for clamping engagement with a portion of theelectrical device; and exposed fastening means engaging said centralsegment for securing in electrically conductive relation said jaw meansto the current-carrying means.
 2. The socket base assembly of claim 1wherein the central segment of said jaw means is provided with anopening, and said fastening means is provided with an elongated portionextending through said opening.
 3. The socket base assembly of claim 1wherein said panel is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, anda corresponding number of jaw means is provided, each jaw means being ofsubstantially like construction.
 4. The socket base assembly of claim 1wherein the jaws are biased towards one another by an encompassingspring.
 5. The socket base assembly of claim 1 wherein the aperture ofsaid panel has a noncircular perimetric configuration and the centralsegment of said jaw means has a corresponding peripheral configurationwhereby said jaw means remains in a predetermined position with respectto said panel when the central segment of said jaw means is accommodatedwith said aperture.
 6. The socket base assembly of claim 5 wherein thecentral segment of said jaw means base portion is in self-alignedrelation with respect to the panel aperture when accommodated therein.7. The socket base assembly of claim 5 wherein the peripheral segmentsof the base portion of said jaw means are disposed in non-compressiverelation with the portion of said panel defining said aperture, whensaid jaw means is fixedly accommodated within said aperture.